7. Congress at Work

1. How a Bill Becomes a Law 2. Taxing and Spending Bills 3. Influencing Congress 4. Helping Constituents

Alabama Course Of Study 2. Analyze purposes, organization, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. 6. Describe the development and functions of special interest groups. 8.Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States. 9. Identify constitutional provisions of the legislative branch of the government of the United States.

7.1 How a Bill Becomes a Law Daily Objective: Explain the process by which federal legislation is proposed, reviewed, and enacted. Topics: ◦ Types of Bills and Resolutions ◦ Introducing a bill ◦ Floor Action ◦ Final Steps in Passing bills

Types of Bills and Resolutions Public bills involve national issues. Private bills deal with individual people. Resolutions may be passed by either house or by both houses. Concurrent resolutions do not have the force of law. A rider is a provision attached to a bill on an unrelated subject.

Types of Bills and Resolutions Only a few bills become laws because: ◦ The process is long and complex ◦ Measures must have broad support ◦ Supporters must be willing to compromise ◦ Many bills are introduced that have no chance of passing.

Discussion Question Why might a major public bill require months to move through Congress? Many major public bills deal with controversial issues and may be debated for months.

Here is a copy of President Obama’s health care bill.

Discussion Question

Introducing a Bill Bills are dropped into the hopper. New bills are assigned a number. They are sent to a committee and then a subcommittee.

Introducing a Bill If a committee decides to act on a bill it holds hearings on it. Committee members review the bill and make changes by a majority vote.

Introducing a Bill The committee can reject the bill or recommend it to the floor.

Floor Action The bill is scheduled for debate. Any legislator may offer amendments. The bill (with amendments) must receive a majority vote in both houses to pass.

Floor Action Congress may use standing, roll-call, record, or voice votes.

Final Steps in Passing Bills The bill must pass both houses in identical form. ◦ Conference committees work out differences. ◦ They then send a compromise bill to both houses. The president may then sign it, keep it 10 days without signing it, veto, or use a pocket veto.

Final Steps in Passing Bills Congress can override a veto by 2/3 vote of each house. The line-item veto was declared unconstitutional. The new law is registered with the National Archives and Records Service. Bills can be tracked using THOMAS. mas.php mas.php

7.2 Taxing and Spending Bills Daily Objective: Analyze the power of Congress to raise and spend money through tax laws and appropriations bills. Topics: ◦ Making Decisions about taxes ◦ Appropriating Money

Making Decisions about Taxes Only the House has power to introduce revenue bills. The House Ways and Means Committee handles revenue bills. Before 1973, the closed rule forbade amending tax bills from the floor to avoid pressure from special interest groups.

Making Decisions about Taxes In 1973, the House repealed the closed rule. Critics say tax bills now favor special interest groups. The Senate may propose changes in tax bills. The Committee on Finance handles revenue bills for the Senate.

Appropriating Money Congress has the power of appropriation, or approval of government spending. Congress uses a two-step procedure in appropriating money: ◦ An authorization bill ◦ An appropriations bill Senator Richard Shelby, R-AL

Appropriating Money An authorization bill sets up a federal program and specifies how much money may be spent on it. An appropriations bill provides the money needed to carry out the program or law.

Appropriating Money Interest groups try to influence members of Congress to give money to their agencies.

7.3 Influencing Congress Daily Objective: Identify factors that often influence members of Congress. Topics: ◦ Influences on Lawmakers ◦ The Influence of Voters ◦ The Influence of Parties ◦ Other Influences on Congress

Influences on Lawmakers Lawmakers are influenced by: Voters Staff members Political parties The President Special interest groups

The Influence of Voters Lawmakers must stay in tune with their voters. They stay informed about the voters’ needs by: ◦ Frequent trips home ◦ Reading messages ◦ Questionnaires ◦ By staff reports

The Influence of Parties Most lawmakers belong to a political party. They typically support the party position on issues. They normally share the same general political beliefs.

Discussion Question What might happen when lawmakers do not vote with their own political party?

Other Influences on Congress Presidents persuade lawmakers to support their agendas by giving or withholding political favors. Interest groups represent various concerns. Political Action Committees (PACs) are political fund-raising organizations that give their funds to support lawmakers who favor the PAC’s position.

Discussion Question How did lobbyists get their name? People who wanted favors from New York lawmakers waited in the lobby to talk to them as they walked in the building.

Discussion Question Do you think lobbyists are beneficial or detrimental to the lawmaking process in Congress? Explain. Refer to page 198.

7.4 Helping Constituents Daily Objective: Explain how members of Congress help voters in their state or district. Topics: ◦ Handling Problems ◦ Helping the District or State

Handling Problems Caseworkers help lawmakers deal with the needs of the voters. Responding to these needs help lawmakers get reelected. Oil Field in Conecuh County

Helping the District or State Lawmakers bring federal projects and money to their districts and states through: ◦ pork-barrel legislation ◦ federal grants and contracts ◦ keeping federal projects.

Helping the District or State Congress appropriates billions of dollars for local projects that can help local economies. The appropriations for local projects are sometimes called “pork-barrel legislation.”

Helping the District or State Winning federal funding for local projects helps lawmakers to get reelected. (They are bringing home the bacon!)

Test Tomorrow!